Scenes from the 2017 edition of Trunk or Treat at the Mill Valley Community Center. Courtesy images.

Six years ago, Mill Valley Recreation decided to create a pre-Halloween event that built on the tradition of trick-or-treating – with a twist. Now it's a multi-faceted celebration on Friday, Oct. 26, spanning three events and encompassing both Halloween and Dia De Los Muertos.

Trunk or Treat, a free family event in which businesses, local organizations and residents are invited to promote themselves by welcoming families to "trick-or-treat" from their decorated car trunks, has grown in scope every year, taking over more and more of the Mill Valley Community Center parking lot. Vendors, local organizations and families distribute free air brush tattoos and treats and kids engage in activities and face-painting, among festivities.​

Trunk or Treat is preceded on Oct. 26 by a pair of related events. At 4pm, the annual family Halloween Magic Show combines Halloween, comedy, audience participation and amazing magic to create a "spooktacular," 45-minute show for goblins of all ages. Attendees should wear their Halloween costumes.

At 5pm, a Dia De Los Muertos Celebration of dearly departed family, friends and pets kicks off with arts and crafts followed by a screening of the celebrated Pixar film Coco at 6:30pm.